What Does Insurable Interest Mean?

 

October 21, 2007 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Insurance Laws 

Reader question:

What does the term ‘insurable interest’ mean?

Maggie

Thank you for your question, Maggie.

I’m surprised that I missed that one on my list of terms for California car insurance. If you’re confused about any other wording and want to look at the list, it’s a few posts down and explains all of the common terms used in the car insurance business. Now, I will get to the subject at hand.

An insurable interest is, essentially, when you have some sort of property which, if it were to be damaged or somehow lost, would also cause you some degree of financial harm. For example, if your house was severely damaged in a flood, then that house would be an insurable interest (before or after the flood) regardless of what you choose to do with the house itself. Maybe you decide to remain in its damaged surroundings and fix it up, which would be considered financial harm, or you sell it for less than its value was before the flood, which would also be categorized as financial harm. Either way, you would lose out, which is why we have California car insurance (and homeowner’s insurance).

What makes an interest insurable, according to California car insurance, is that it directly affects you. For example, if the person’s house across the street from you is flooded, but it doesn’t quite make it to your own house, then it isn’t considered an interest of yours. If you want to get an insurance policy for it, then the interest has to be something that is your own, and something that is insurable.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Information on Long Beach California Car Insurance Policy

 

October 18, 2007 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: California Car Insurance 

Here’s some random information about your Long Beach California car insurance policy that I think you should keep in mind when getting your coverage.

  • If it’s in your car, but not part of your car, then it isn’t covered.

My friend used to take his stereo around with him when he went driving because the radio from his car had gotten stolen. If, in turn, the car got stolen, then the stereo which had set him back a couple hundred dollars would be gone forever, unless he had renter’s or homeowner’s insurance. Your North Long Beach CA car insurance policy covers things that are part of your car, but nothing inside of them.

  • When you get a broker, discuss the fee.

Some people decide to get their car insurance through a broker, because the broker can often help them in choosing a car insurance company so that they don’t have to waste a lot of time looking on their own. Whenever you do this, make sure to decide on a broker’s fee upfront, because the brokers do not deal with the state and therefore if you don’t have it in writing, you will be in trouble.

  • If you’re okay, they’re okay.

If you have an insurance policy, then the members of your household are covered by it, even if they are not named on your policy and do not drive the car frequently. Also, if you give a friend or relative permission to drive your vehicle, then they are also covered by your car insurance policy. It is not always necessary for you to give permission, just for them to be sure that you would have consented to them driving the car if asked.

For the record, household is defined as relatives, not roommates. If someone is driving your car frequently, then they need to be on your policy or you could risk having your claim denied.